“The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.” Revelation 21
The World Cup, the World Series, and the World That Jesus Loves
The FIFA World Cup is now a 48-team tournament, running across Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., with 104 matches on the schedule. The College World Series has also started in Omaha, with eight teams competing for the national championship. Add the recent NBA and Stanley Cup Finals, and the air is supercharged with enough hype to propel a testosterone wind farm. 😂
And boy howdy, it’s been fun to watch.
I’m grateful for HD and 60-inch screens, because it wasn’t that long ago that we would have been straining to see the action on something much smaller and far less desirable. Or not at all. These technological advances are giving us front-row seats to witness some of the best competitive events the world has to offer.
It’s also been enlightening to watch YouTube videos capturing the world’s fascination with all things American. Europeans fawning over Waffle House at 1:00 a.m. South Africans marveling at how safe it is here. Scottish bagpipers making their way to Boston’s Fenway Park. The Big Gulp and Buc-ee’s are having a moment too.
It’s helping me see American culture in a new light. And it’s funny to boot.
All of this got me thinking about how much God loves not only America, but the whole world.
And isn’t it interesting how often people choose sporting events as a platform to remind us of that fact? It’s common to see someone holding up a “John 3:16” sign, strategically placed where the camera captures both the action and the message.
“For God so loved the world…”
He doesn’t love us or the world because we’re perfect, or even worthy. He loves us because that is His nature. God, in Jesus Christ, is on a rescue and redemption mission.
He did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
When the world gathers as it is now through sports, I think it gives us a small foreshadowing of the future. In the book of Revelation, we read about a final gathering of people from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.
The world’s games divide us into flags, jerseys, colors, chants, brackets, and allegiances. And that can be a beautiful thing. But Jesus is doing something deeper than crowning a temporary champion.
The world celebrates winners and gathers around trophies.
Jesus is uniting the nations in a new heaven and a new earth, where He is gathering His people around a table and offering them a feast.
And He is not merely the host.
He is the feast.
He is offering Himself.
And He is a gentleman. The invitation from Jesus has not changed in 2,000 years. It is still, “Come, follow Me.”
Run the play. Say yes to the invitation. Enter the epic procession. Take your seat around the table.
Finding Our Place in the Story
When you think about “the world,” do you mostly see headlines, opponents, strangers, threats, or people deeply loved by God?
Where might Jesus be inviting you to love beyond your normal team, tribe, comfort zone, or circle of concern?
What would it look like this week to say “yes” to Jesus’ invitation and help someone else find their seat at His table?
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